a certain
idiom
1
—used to refer to a quality that is noticed but that is difficult to explain or describe
She has a certain elegance about her.
The house has a certain charm.
2
formal
—used with the name of a person one does not know
In 1889, a certain Mr. Kelly made a large donation to the church.
Examples of a certain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The destination’s name alone conjures up mid-century nostalgia, a certain Old Hollywood romanticism filled with ice-cold martinis sipped in moody, red velvet-heavy steakhouses and of poolside bonhomie worthy of a Slim Aarons photo.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
To a certain degree, the best time to book depends on the type of cruise and your risk tolerance.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026
The checks have never had a certain path forward, experts have said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
For Southerners, salad is based more in tradition and passed-down recipes than a certain ingredient list—and yes, it can sometimes be used interchangeably as both a side dish and dessert.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
To a certain degree, the best time to book depends on the type of cruise and your risk tolerance.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026
The checks have never had a certain path forward, experts have said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
For Southerners, salad is based more in tradition and passed-down recipes than a certain ingredient list—and yes, it can sometimes be used interchangeably as both a side dish and dessert.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for a certain
Cite this Entry
“A certain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20certain. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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